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U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill said the draft agreement still must be reviewed by the home governments of the six countries at the talks, but he was upbeat about it. He said he was in “constant communication” with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. “We feel it’s an excellent draft, I don’t think we’re the problem.”
North Korea did not immediately make any public comment, but South Korea’s envoy Chun Yung-woo said he believed the proposal would be acceptable to Pyongyang.
Chun said the five other countries agreed to evenly share the energy aid outlined under the deal.
However, Japan was more noncommittal. Its envoy, Kenichiro Sasae, said it was “too early to tell” whether Tokyo was satisfied.
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Chinese envoy Wu Dawei told a visiting Japanese lawmaker that North Korea had agreed to shut down its main nuclear reactor and submit a list of its atomic facilities.
Under a 1994 U.S.-North Korea disarmament agreement, the North was to receive 500,000 tons of fuel oil a year before construction was completed of two nuclear reactors that would be able to generate 2 million kilowatts of electricity.
That deal fell apart in late 2002 when the U.S. accused the North of conducting a secret uranium enrichment program, sparking the latest nuclear crisis.
Former U.S. ambassador Bolton raps North Korea nuclear talks
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."
